3 Cool Things Ranchers Should Know About This Week

From books to movies, here are three interesting items worth checking out this week.

I thought I would kick off Monday by rounding up a few items from the entertainment industry I think might be worth your time. Here are three cool things you should know about this week.

1. “Farmland,” the movie

Coming out in the spring of 2014, this movie takes folks back to the farm. “Most people are five generations removed from the farm, and each generation makes people a little bit further removed,” describes the movie trailer, which you can watch here. This movie promises to show people where their food comes from and who the folks are behind the food we shop for at the grocery store.

2. “Our Star Goes West,” a children’s book by Rianna and Sheridan Chaney

I’m a big fan of Rianna and Sheridan Chaney’s children’s books. They have recently released their fifth book, “Our Star Goes West.” In the new book, "Our Star Goes West," young readers get to enjoy Star's new adventure moving from a small farm in Maryland to a huge ranch in south central Nebraska. The book introduces many new experiences for Rianna and Sheridan while they learn about ranch life up close and personal. It also shows the good carefarmers and ranchers give their cattle no matter what the weather, and points out the importance of farmers and ranchers to the environment and to wildlife. The book includes a glossary, fun beef facts, and educationalwebsites for parents and teachers.

I received a review copy of “In Meat We Trust,” and although I’m still working my way through it, I have so far enjoyed what I’ve read. In a recent interview with Salon, author Maureen Ogle discussed the meat scandals that have occurred throughout our nation’s history. She also explains why books like “The Jungle,” and food columnists like Michael Pollan, haveit all wrong.

“I think what the food reformers – and I need to make it clear, I have a great deal of sympathy with their goals — don’t understand is that the system of providing food is predicated on the fact that the vast majority of Americans don’t make food,” she says. “They expect someone else to raise it for them. And in the U.S., if you live in a city, you absolutely expect there to be lots and lots of food at a reasonable price. For the past century that’s in fact what has driven our economy: the ability to free up spending dollars. I think food reformers don’t get that the reason they have the luxury of sitting around tapping out critiques on their Apple computers is because they a) don’t have to grow their own food and b) don’t have to spend very much money for the food that they do have.”

Do you have any suggestions for good reads, movies or articles our readers might enjoy? Send them my way at amanda.radke@penton.com or leave me a note in the comments section below.